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Aer Lingus is pulling the plug on its long-haul operations from Manchester Airport (MAN). This brings an end to a strategy that began just a few years ago and was meant to position the airport as a year-round transatlantic gateway.
The Irish flag carrier confirmed that it will cease all transatlantic flying from Manchester Airport (MAN) by March 31st. The Manchester Airport (MAN) to/from New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will end on February 23rd. Other long-haul routes launched from Manchester in late 2021 included services to Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) and Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Aer Lingus entered the Manchester long-haul market with the belief that northern England was underserved for nonstop transatlantic travel. The airline also saw an opportunity to leverage its participation in the transatlantic joint venture alongside oneworld® carriers (despite not being a formal member of the alliance itself). However, that strategy has struggled to deliver consistent financial returns.
In recent months, Aer Lingus publicly acknowledged uncertainty around the future of its Manchester Airport (MAN) longhaul base. That uncertainty has now been resolved with the airline opting to fully exit transatlantic flying from there. Aer Lingus has stated that the financial performance of Manchester long-haul routes significantly lagged behind services operated from its Irish hubs, including Dublin Airport (DUB) and Shannon Airport (SNN).
Labor issues have also played a role in the decision. Aer Lingus has been locked in prolonged contract negotiations with roughly 200 Manchester-based flight attendants. While the airline offered a 9% pay increase, the staff pushed for higher wages and improved working conditions while arguing that the proposal did not keep pace with rising living costs. These disputes led to extended strike action and operational instability at the Manchester base.
All affected customers are being notified directly and offered rebooking or refund options. To help reaccommodate passengers booked on the Manchester Airport (MAN) to Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) route, Aer Lingus plans to operate a temporary service between Dublin Airport (DUB) and the airport in Barbados during April and May. The airline has said it does not expect any disruption to flights ahead of the announced end dates.
The decision does not affect Aer Lingus or Aer Lingus Regional services between Manchester Airport (MAN) and Ireland. Short-haul operations to Irish destinations will continue as normal. Aer Lingus UK currently operates two Airbus A330-300 aircraft, both transferred from the main Irish operation. With the Manchester long-haul base closing, those aircraft are expected to be redeployed to more profitable routes, likely strengthening services through Dublin Airport (DUB).
The move reinforces a long-standing challenge for Manchester Airport (MAN) when it comes to sustaining transatlantic routes. Over the years, several carriers have tried and failed to establish long-haul operations there, including BMI Long Haul, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. Today, transatlantic flying from Manchester is limited to a small group of operators such as Virgin Atlantic, Air Transat, TUI Airways, and seasonal Air Canada service.
Anthony’s Take: With Aer Lingus exiting the market, more northern England travelers will once again need to rely on connections through London airports or Dublin Airport (DUB) to reach North America.
(Image Credits: John Mcarthur via Unsplash and Aer Lingus.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
